Black Lion Tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysopygus)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 11053169

The Black Lion Tamarin [BLT], Leontopithecus chrysopygus, is an endangered primate species, endemically occurring in highly fragmented and isolated small populations within a limited range in the Atlantic rainforests of the state of Sao Paulo in Brazil. This species has been considered being extinct since 1905 until one population was rediscovered in the seventies. The BLT conservation project conducted by the IPÊ Institute for Ecological research is conducting applied conservation research and in-situ meta-population management, translocation, reintroduction, the creation of conservation units and the restoration of habitat and landscape connectivity successfully using a holistic, integrating approach, by including environmental education, ecofriendly socio-economic development and capacitating of the rural human communities. The project acts mainly in two regions with significant BLT populations; the Pontal de Paranapanema region in the most western part of the interior of Sao Paulo state and in the region of Capao Bonito and Buri with the occurrence of the second major BLT population. Here the project tries currently to find so far not known BLT groups, conducts a population genetics study and facilitates the creation of ecological corridors to reconnect fragmented Black Lion Tamarin populations.